Hikvision DarkFighter Explained

Colour pictures in near-darkness, with no visible light.

DarkFighter is Hikvision's low-light camera technology. A wide lens and a sensitive sensor give usable colour footage in near-darkness. When it gets darker still, the camera switches to infrared (invisible light).

It's not the same as ColorVu, which uses white light instead. We stock Hikvision DarkFighter fixed cameras and DarkFighterX PTZ speed domes.

On this page: What DarkFighter is · DarkFighter vs DarkFighterX · DarkFighter vs ColorVu · Hikvision DarkFighter cameras we stock · FAQs

What is DarkFighter?

DarkFighter is Hikvision's low-light sensor technology. On the DarkFighter models we stock, that usually means an F1.2-F1.4 lens and a very sensitive sensor.

It gives a usable colour picture at around 0.008 lux, roughly moonlight.
Below that, it switches to infrared, which covers full darkness (commonly out to 30m on our fixed DarkFighter models).

It's a sensor and lens technology, not a single product line. So you'll find it combined with other Hikvision features: vandal-resistant IK10 domes, motorised zoom lenses and AcuSense AI detection, among others.

What is the difference between DarkFighter and DarkFighterX?

DarkFighter is used on Hikvision's fixed dome, bullet and turret cameras.

DarkFighterX is the same low-light technology on Hikvision's PTZ speed domes. These add motorised pan and tilt, plus optical zoom (up to 25x on the models we stock). They suit sites that need to cover a wide area, then zoom in on an incident.

Should I choose DarkFighter or ColorVu?

Both give a usable picture after dark, in different ways:

DarkFighter is a very sensitive sensor. It still switches to infrared once light drops far enough, giving a discreet black-and-white night picture.
ColorVu uses a built-in white light instead of infrared. The picture stays in full colour around the clock, but the light is visible.

See our ColorVu Explained guide for the full comparison.

Which DarkFighter cameras do you stock?

Hikvision DS-2CD2785G0-IZS — 4K DarkFighter motorised varifocal dome, IK10
Hikvision DS-2CD2685G0-IZS — 8MP motorised varifocal DarkFighter bullet with IR
Hikvision DS-2CD2385G1-I — 8MP fixed-lens DarkFighter turret with IR
Hikvision DS-2DF8225IH-AEL — DarkFighterX 2MP 25x IR network speed dome

Browse everything: DarkFighter camera series · all IP cameras · IP camera buying guide.

Questions

What is Hikvision DarkFighter?

DarkFighter is Hikvision's low-light camera sensor technology. Paired with a wide-aperture lens it produces usable colour images at extremely low light levels - down to around 0.008 lux on typical models - before switching to infrared for full darkness.

What is the difference between DarkFighter and DarkFighterX?

DarkFighter is Hikvision's low-light sensor technology used across fixed dome, bullet and turret cameras. DarkFighterX is the same underlying technology applied to Hikvision's PTZ speed dome cameras, which add optical zoom on top.

Is DarkFighter the same as ColorVu?

No. DarkFighter is a very sensitive sensor that still switches to infrared at night for a monochrome image. ColorVu uses built-in white light instead of infrared, to keep the image in full colour around the clock. DarkFighter is the more discreet option; ColorVu gives you colour.

Does DarkFighter work with AcuSense?

Yes - many Hikvision cameras combine a DarkFighter sensor with AcuSense human/vehicle detection on the same model, so low-light image quality and on-camera AI analytics are not a trade-off against each other.

Need help choosing? Contact us, visit our Wolverhampton trade counter, or call us on 01902 902251.